Journal Article

Preventing the return of fear in humans using reconsolidation update mechanisms

Monfils, Marie-H., Johnson, David C., Raio, Candace M., Schiller, Daniela, LeDoux, Joseph E., Phelps, Elizabeth A.

2010

Overview

Recent research on changing fears has examined targeting reconsolidation. During reconsolidation, stored information is rendered labile after being retrieved. Pharmacological manipulations at this stage result in an inability to retrieve the memories at later times, suggesting that they are erased or persistently inhibited. Unfortunately, the use of these pharmacological manipulations in humans can be problematic. Here we introduce a non-invasive technique to target the reconsolidation of fear memories in humans. We provide evidence that old fear memories can be updated with non-fearful information provided during the reconsolidation window. As a consequence, fear responses are no longer expressed, an effect that lasted at least a year and was selective only to reactivated memories without affecting others. These findings demonstrate the adaptive role of reconsolidation as a window of opportunity to rewrite emotional memories, and suggest a non-invasive technique that can be used safely in humans to prevent the return of fear. An appointment with fear Reconsolidation is a natural mechanism in human memory: the reconsolidation phase allows new information available at the time of retrieval to be incorporated into an old memory. Although pharmacological blockade of reconsolidation has been used to prevent the return of fear in animal models, many of these manipulations involve compounds that are toxic to humans. Elizabeth Phelps and co-workers now report a non-invasive technique of rewriting fear memories that avoids the use of drugs. The procedure is based on an established technique in which memories of traumatic events are 'extinguished' by repeated exposure to traumatic reminders in a safe environment. This works up to a point, but memories are masked rather than eliminated and can return, for example with the passage of time or due to stress. The new advance lies in timing: if the 'safe' information is introduced during the reconsolidation window of old fear memories, the fear does not return. This work suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety conditions might be responsive to new types of non-invasive therapy. During reconsolidation of memories, stored information is rendered labile after being retrieved and can be manipulated. Previous studies have used pharmacological intervention to disrupt retrieved memories; here, however, a non-invasive, behavioural technique is used to target the reconsolidation of fear memories in humans. Non-fearful information provided during the reconsolidation window appears to update old fear memories, causing a lack of expression of fear responses.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Affectivity. Emotion / Analysis / Biological and medical sciences / Classical conditioning / Conditioning, Classical - physiology / Cues / Electrodes / Electroshock / Episodic memory / Evoked potentials (Electrophysiology) / Extinction, Psychological - physiology / Fear / Fear & phobias / Fear - physiology / Fear - psychology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Human / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Learning. Memory / Memory / Memory - physiology / Models, Neurological / Models, Psychological / multidisciplinary / Neuronal Plasticity - physiology / Personality. Affectivity / Photic Stimulation / Psychological aspects / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychology. Psychophysiology / Psychopharmacology / Rodents / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Studies / Time Factors